If you’re unfamiliar with the city and looking for the real places where New Orleans happens – what to eat, where to drink, art, music and more – Voodoo Experience founder and producer Stephen Rehage offers these best-of picks for experiencing New Orleans.

“New Orleans is not about places as much as it is about people,” says Rehage. “It’s impossible to list where New Orleans will be happening at any given moment–it seems to just happen. These suggestions will keep you off of Bourbon Street (unless you’re going to see Irvin at the Playhouse) ‘til New Orleans stumbles upon you, ” Rehage says.

These are the bars, restaurants, art gallery, coffee shop – even a place to satisfy your sweet tooth – to check out while you’re in town for Voodoo Experience.

If you happen to decide not to leave New Orleans – which tends to happen more often than one would think – don’t miss Krewe du Vieux during Carnival season or the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival.